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PITTSBURGH -- The signs of progress at Pittsburgh are unmistakable. From the remodeled offices to the return of the popular script logo on the helmets to the arrival of living, breathing adrenaline rush Pat Narduzzi as head coach in December 2014, the vibe today is in stark contrast to the one tackle Adam Bisnowaty felt when he arrived in the summer of 2012.And while all those things are great, what Bisnowaty will miss the most isnt the place so much as the people, including the fellow seniors who will storm out onto the Heinz Field tunnel one final time on Saturday when the Panthers (7-4, 4-3 ACC) host Syracuse (4-7, 2-5). The program was in the middle of a bumpy patch when Bisnowaty signed in February 2012. Paul Chryst had been on the job less than two months after Todd Graham abruptly left after one season for Arizona State. Then Chryst walked out the door, too, given a chance to return home to Wisconsin.All that adversity, however, only deepened the bonds forged in the locker room and on the practice field.We all came here to play football for Pitt no matter who was our coach, Bisnowaty said. Thats what we decided we were going to do. Thats what were going for every day.Just dont expect Bisnowaty or his teammates to get too sentimental. That will come later. Theres too much at stake against the Orange. A loss would blunt the momentum of a regular season that already includes wins over rival Penn State and ACC powerhouse Clemson. A win would also better their already promising bowl prospects and give the Panthers consecutive seasons of at least eight victories for the first time since 2008-09.The stakes arent quite so high for the Orange, who have dropped three straight by an average of 33.3 points.We need to go out there and we need to play a good football game -- a competitive football game down to the fourth quarter when we have a chance to win, first-year coach Dino Babers said. I think thats the key to bouncing back from all this stuff and trying to send the seniors out on a positive note.Some things to look for as Pitt goes for its 13th win in its last 15 meetings in a series that dates back to 1916.GOODBYE JAMES?: A year ago, Pitt running back James Conner was diagnosed with cancer. Last Saturday, he scored his 53rd career touchdown to set a new ACC record. The 2014 ACC Player of the Year is keeping quiet about whether hell return for his senior season, saying this week he wont make any decision until after the bowl game.POROUS LINE: Syracuse QB Zack Mahoney was sacked eight times last week by Florida State and never could develop any kind of rhythm on offense. That means Pitts Ejuan Price is more than likely salivating just a little bit. The senior defensive end has compiled 19 TFLs and 11 sacks on the year.Its a different game when a quarterback is getting hit a lot, Babers said. Theyre not supposed to get hit a lot. Weve got to find a way to help him.BLAME CANADA: Pitt has already set a school record with 432 points despite entering the season with serious questions at wide receiver. Much of the credit goes to offensive coordinator Matt Canada, whose creative approach has created plenty of open space for Conner and do-everything wide receiver Quadree Henderson. Canada could become a candidate to land his first head coaching job in the offseason though he insisted hes happy getting in the lab with the rest of the Panthers staff and finding ways to exploit mismatches.DRIVE FOR FIVE: A Syracuse victory would place the Orange in the mix for a possible bowl invitation if enough teams dont reach six wins to fill all 80 bowl slots. Last year, three 5-7 teams played in bowl games. Babers, however, is more focused on his team simply playing better.When you look at our 12-game schedule, weve only been favored to win one game, Babers said. For us to have (four) wins out of that situation with one game left to play, I think is a testament to the seniors and the staff and also that were trending up.---AP Sports Writer John Kekis in Syracuse, New York, contributed to this report.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Steve Wright Jersey Online . 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"It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. Carmen Cavalli Jersey Online . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- This time VCU built on its halftime lead.Justin Tillman scored a season-high 17 points to help VCU beat LSU 85-74 on Friday in the fifth-place game at the Battle 4 Atlantis, a win coming two days after the Rams blew a halftime lead in the opening-round loss to No. 20 Baylor.JeQuan Lewis scored 19 for the Rams (5-1), who shot 58 percent after halftime. VCU pushed a 40-33 halftime lead into a double-digit lead about 5 minutes into the second half and maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way.I think we got off to a better start the second half, VCU coach Will Wade said. By the first media (timeout) wed expanded the lead by just a point but we hadnt given any ground like we had in the Baylor game.In that one, the Rams led 36-28 before losing 71-63.We reminded them of that at half, Wade said.Tillman, a 6-foot-7 junior, had missed two straight games due to a left foot injury before coming to the Bahamas. He saw limited work against Baylor, but had 13 rebounds in Thursdays win against St. Johns and followed that with a strong scoring day.He finished 8 of 9 from the floor while also pulling down eight rebounds.I had to get back into the game and just start picking it up, game by game, Tillman said.Antonio Blakeney and Skylar Mays each scored 14 for the Tigers (4-2), who shot 49 percent but couldnt keep the Rams within reach after halftime.I thought once we got in halfcourt sets, we did a decent job of defending, LSU coach Johnny Jones said. But when we were turning the ball over, it was very quick, easy scoring opportunities for them and they fed off that. We had entirely too many turnovers in the second half.BIG PICTURELSU: This was the second double-digit loss for LSU in three games in Atlantis, going back to a 35-point loss to Wichita State in Wednesdays opener.dddddddddddd The Tigers trailed by as many as 19 in this one, while their lone win here came Thursday against Old Dominion.We know we can take valuable lessons from this that they can compete at a certain level, Jones said. Now weve got to put things together: taking care of the basketball, making sure were rebounding and doing the things we need to and being able to execute our offense at a high level.VCU: The Rams lost their Atlantis opener to Baylor -- the eventual champion -- but bounced back with two straight wins to take some positive momentum back to the state of Virginia.I thought we got better as we were here, Wade said.TIP-INSLSU: LSU committed 10 of its 18 turnovers after halftime. ... Duop Reath scored 13 points. ... LSU finished with a 36-33 rebounding advantage. ... Junior guard Jayln Patterson earned his second straight start and had seven assists.VCU: VCU had 14 of its 19 points off turnovers after halftime. ... Lewis 19 points gave him exactly 1,000 for his career. ... Lewis also finished with nine assists and one turnover. ... Samir Doughty had 12 points and seven rebounds. ... VCU had eight turnovers.UP NEXTLSU: The Tigers return home Tuesday to play Houston.VCU: The Rams play at home Tuesday against Princeton.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '